General Food Distribution (GFD) Officer - 3 at COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale

COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale is an Italian humanitarian non-governmental organization founded in Milan in 1965. COOPI aims to help the world’s poorest to improve their access to healthcare, food, and financial security, and to overcome their special vulnerability to wars, civil conflicts and natural disasters. For 50 years of long-term support and constant presence in the field, COOPI has been engaged in breaking the cycle of poverty and responding to specific emergencies in numerous sectors, including Food Security, Humanitarian Aid, Health, Socio-Economical Services, Water and Sanitation, Disaster Risk Reduction, Human Rights, Education and Training, Migrations and Sustainable Energy.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: General Food Distribution (GFD) Officer - 3 (Based on donor funding)

Location: Yobe
Employment Type: Full-time

Job Summary

• The General Food Distribution (GFD) Officer will be responsible for efficiently facilitating the implementation of all food distribution activities.
• He/she will ensure that all proposed objectives and targets concerning general food assistance are achieved effectively.
• The GFD Officer will be responsible for directly overseeing the reception of food commodities and the implementation of food distributions. This will include verification of beneficiaries, crowd control and line monitor distribution assistant, taking full accountability for receiving and distributing commodities, ensuring each beneficiary receives appropriate entitlement/ration and ensuring that the distribution is implemented according to the standards and best practice.

Main Duties / Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the GFD Coordinator, and in collaboration with the Deputy Project Manager, Program manager, and other collaborators of the projects and of the Base, he/she will:

• Be in charge of the distribution point, ensuring that the distribution ‘flow’ is continued, that beneficiaries are treated with dignity, that there is accurate verification and rationing and that there is space for sensitization.
• Facilitate community mobilization, sensitization, meetings and coordination of all distribution activities by ensuring that beneficiaries are informed about project objectives, the ration they are entitled to, distribution dates, right to complain, ways in which they can file complaints.
• Work closely with selected community committees/leaders to ensure accountability, fairness and transparency during the implementation of activities.
• Work closely with the Project Management Committee (PMC) and other community structures/stakeholders on distribution activity plans.
• Gather information and data on food distribution activities through surveys, assessments, regular post-distribution monitoring and field supervision visits to beneficiary households where necessary.
• Ensure program activities are implemented according to approved guidelines.
• Mobilize and raise awareness about the organization, program objectives and activities to local authorities and the population, and act as a link between the organization and the beneficiaries at the program site and LGA level.
• Work closely with the GFD coordinator, DPM and the project manager to achieve program objectives and targets.
• Oversee reception of food commodities at the distribution points, accounting and recording any differences between the number of units received per commodity against dispatched waybill.
• Support monitoring and evaluation, complaints and feedback, third-party partners monitoring and beneficiary feedback mechanisms.
• Perform a monthly inventory of distribution materials to ensure all materials are available and ready to use before the monthly cycle.
• Assist storekeeper in training hired transporters and laborer on proper loading of commodities at the distribution site.
• Organize and assist in conducting post-distribution discussions with beneficiaries and community leaders after each distribution cycle
• Support the M&E and SCOPE Officers in overseeing the beneficiary’s registration database, ensuring that each registration record is comprehensive.
• Oversee the reception of food commodities, accounting for the number of units requested for and received against the dispatch waybill as well as what was distributed.
• Ensure the commodities are properly handled at the distribution points.
• Ensure the commodity tracking paperwork is being completed by the GFD Assistants, including stack cards, warehouse ledgers, etc.
• Support Storekeeper in post-distribution monitoring of physical inventories.
• Support in thematic surveys needs assessment and data collection for GFD and livelihood-related research.
• Support the M&E team in the collation and analysis of beneficiary data.
• Coordinate closely with the GFD coordinator to ensure that cross-LGA programs are being implemented in synergy.
• Sensitize beneficiaries on available feedback mechanisms and maintain an open line of communication with them to obtain feedback and complaints with regard to the existing GFD implementation.
• Ensure most vulnerable people are identified and prioritized for assistance during program registration and activities implementation.
• Supervise Food Distribution Assistants.
• Proactively plan and coordinate with logistics the movements of staff from and to different operational areas.
• Represent COOPI in the field and ensure no fraud or irregularities occur.
• Treat beneficiaries with dignity and apply COOPI’s Code of Ethics and Conduct, the UN Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in the field, including sensitizing Distribution Assistants, community mobilisers and daily labourers on such principles.

Coordination:

• Develop lines of communication and close collaboration with WFP, team members, and other stakeholders as well as contribute to a coordinated humanitarian response.
• Liaise with the Logistics to ensure that the food commodities required for the activities are available in a timely manner. Complete and keep records of the necessary paperwork
• Represent COOPI at external stakeholder meetings in coordination with GFD coordinator.
• Coordinate field activities with other COOPI teams.
• Participate in regular internal and external Food Security coordination meetings for the program at Camp, Host Community, LGA and state levels as necessary.
• Ensure maximum visibility of the organization amongst the Government of Nigeria, and the NGO/UN community.
• Maintain open lines of communication with all field staff and service departments.

Reporting:

• Regularly produce GFD updates including field visit reports etc.
• Prepare accurate and timely (Daily, weekly and monthly report) GFD reports. This is also including plans and facilitation of community awareness sessions on GFD
• Support and coordinate with the M&E Officers for surveys, post-distribution and other program monitoring activities.
• Support program teams to ensure M&E aspects of the GFD activities and learning experiences are captured.

Work with program teams to ensure COOPI information on program activities is shared within LGAs and provide for beneficiary feedback in line with relevant guidelines and frameworks:

• Collaborate with government and humanitarian partners to ensure the smooth sharing of information in consultation with the GFD Coordinator/Deputy Project Manager

Capacity Development:

• Supervise, hire and orient team members, as necessary.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
• Provide team members with information, tools, and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
• Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options, and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
• Identify any gaps or capacity needs within the team and ensure training and capacity building are incorporated into program planning.

Code of conduct and associated policies

• Treat beneficiaries with dignity and apply COOPI’s Code of Ethics and Conduct, the UN Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in the field, including sensitizing Field Monitors and vendors/agents on such principles.
• Promote the zero-tolerance policy regarding corruption and ensure adherence to COOPI Code of Conduct and Anti-Fraud policy.

Minimum Requirements
Educational Qualification

• University Degree, HND, or OND in Humanities, Social Science, Art or other relevant field with additional years of related work experience and/or specialized training/courses. At least 3 years working with INGO in general food assistance.

Experience:

• At least 3 years working in general food assistance with an INGO.
• Experience working in North West or North East Nigeria will be an added advantage.

Technical Skills & Knowledge:

• Sound understanding of general food assistance concepts and principles with a broad knowledge of best practices and techniques.
• Knowledge of conditional and un-conditional general food distribution processes and possesses the ability to quickly assimilate COOPI and donors’ processes and systems;
• Ability to rapidly analyse and integrate diverse information.

Competencies:

• Good communication and negotiation skills with the ability to persuade, influence and adapts quickly to different situations;
• Excellent oral, and writing skills.
• Well organized and detail-oriented;
• Ability to work independently and in a team with other departments and units

Essential:

• Be professional, motivated, flexible, and culturally sensitive
• Be excellent in communication skills and proficient in report writing.
• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office programming (Access, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word).
• Excellent communication, writing, and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication, coordination, and facilitation skills.
• Ability to work in a team, and establish effective working relationships with people from different nationalities and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and simultaneously manage multiple tasks in an autonomous manner.
• Previous work experience with INGOs and UN Organization is desirable

Preferred:

• Knowledge of the local context and language (Hausa and Kanuri).
• Willing and able to be based and travel regularly within remote areas, where services are limited.
• Previous experience in a similar position

Application Closing Date
6th February, 2024.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• Qualified female applicants are especially encouraged to apply.
• Qualified candidates with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply
• This ToR shall be inclusive of any other task specifically those assigned by the GFD Coordinator, PM and DPM.